Original subtitles

♪ (THEME MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

♪ ♪

(TIRES SQUEALING)

Mannix s7e14 Race Against Time-Part 1

MANNIX: Ah, here it is, Hank...

"Unidentified Man Killed by Hit-and-run Driver"...

is that the story?

HANK (ON PHONE): Yep, except it's the victim

we're more interested in at this point.

How do I fit in? You think I can identify him?

HANK: Not in a million years.

How soon can you meet me at St. Agnes Hospital?

Well, let's see, uh...

HANK: Don't waste my time, Joe.

If you leave now, you ought to be there in 20 minutes.

Room 319.

(RECEIVER CLICKS) MANNIX: Look, Hank...

(DIAL TONE BUZZES)

If you'll pardon me, your Mr. Hank Pritchard

could do with some manners. Is he with the Syndicate?

They don't like his manners any more than you do.

I never heard of him.

Yeah, he's with a bureau you probably never heard of either,

Peggy, which is just the way they like it.

HANK: Two minutes late, Joe, and time's precious.

I got that impression over the phone.

That's one reason.

You have my promise, Nurse. A few seconds, no more.

Who is he?

It's the hit-and-run victim.

A little late to be taking his pulse, isn't it?

The paper said he was killed.

Because that's what they were told.

Otherwise, he'd still be a target.

Mr. Cramer.

Mr. Cramer...

CRAMER: Hmm? Can you hear me?

Mm...

This is Joe Mannix.

Joe was in Korea at the time Victor Lucas came in

with the UN Peacekeeping Force.

Victor Lucas?

CRAMER: You knew Victor Lucas?

Yes.

Yes, uh, he was the most inspiring man I ever met.

He must be returned to the head of my government,

Mr. Mannix... to end military rule.

That's what brought Mr. Cramer to America, Joe.

As you see, he was followed.

My life does not matter...

so long as I do not fail him.

Fail him?

How?

Victor Lucas is dying.

A few days...

two, maybe three weeks.

Unless... unless...

It's going to come out all right, Mr. Cramer.

I want you to believe that.

I thought it would reassure Cramer

to meet you in person, Joe, before you got started.

Hold it, Hank.

Before I got started doing what?

You heard what Cramer said.

Yes. He said that Victor Lucas was dying.

Unless...

I'll finish it for him.

Unless he has a very specialized heart operation.

So far as we know, there's only one man around

capable of performing it.

Well, that would hardly be me, now, would it?

No. It would be Dr. Myles Considine.

The Nobel Prize? That Considine?

That's the man.

Of course, we'll have to supply him with a foolproof cover name.

A whole new identity. You, too, for that matter.

For what matter? What's it got to do with me?

Your job's to get him to Victor Lucas.

I don't say it won't take a bit of doing,

but then that sort of thing is right down your alley.

Now, wait a minute. "That sort of thing"

doesn't happen to be anywhere near my alley.

I'm a private investigator, Hank.

What was it you said back in there?

That Victor Lucas was the most inspiring man you'd ever met.

(SIGHS)

Oh... I see.

Just words to brighten up the patient, right?

This, uh, Dr. Considine...

naturally you've talked to him?

Naturally.

And he told you I'd agreed to this?

MANNIX: That's the impression I got, yes.

(SIGHS)

Well, he had absolutely no right to make such an assumption.

It's... it's preposterous.

He probably took it for granted you'd go for it,

what with a man's life at stake.

A life at stake?

Here are a dozen, waiting their turns.

And don't bother to tell me that your candidate is prominent.

A publisher, a politician,

one of the leading corporation lawyers in the country...

You are selective, Doctor.

My work is exacting.

And expensive.

There's a problem there.

I doubt if this job would have netted you much of a fee,

if any at all.

It was my understanding that the man Lucas is at present

in his own country, several thousand miles from here.

That is correct.

In some secret hideout from a military government

that apparently would much prefer him dead than alive.

That is also correct.

In which case...

they'd feel more or less the same about anybody who tried

to keep him alive... wouldn't that also be correct?

You might say that's one other reason to get the operation

over and done with as quickly as possible.

And that isn't preposterous?

I have patients whose lives are dependent on my life,

and I involve myself in some... outlandish enterprise

from which I might not return.

I don't think you quite understand, Doctor.

My job is not only to get you there, but to get you back.

Alive.

I'm afraid that could hardly alter my decision, Mr. Mannix.

Well, then, I'll, uh, forward your profound regrets.

And I'm sure you must have regrets, Doctor,

seeing you're the only man who might stand a chance

of saving Victor Lucas.

Well, yes... of course I regret it.

Not to mention the man himself.

You must have some familiarity with him.

What he's done, what he stands for.

I do occasionally read more than medical journals, Mr. Mannix.

Of course I know about him.

And what's your opinion, Doctor?

Wouldn't you say there aren't many men like him

left on this earth?

Look, I don't see the point in pursuing this.

It's just that in a week from now, or maybe two weeks,

when you're reading his obituary,

I'd like you to think about what you might have done

to keep him here a little longer.

No, the whole thing's quite impossible.

Yes, you've told me that.

All right, go ahead... say it's a matter of nerve.

You said that, Doctor, I didn't.

Say it's nerve, and I can tell you it takes more nerve

to plow into a man's chest, to lay his heart bare,

to work with it as if it weren't his one, sole,

pulsing hold on life.

(SIGHS)

It takes a lot more nerve than most men ever know.

But that's my field, this is my territory.

You can't expect me to suddenly turn into some...

superhero out of an Ian Fleming novel!

They're only asking you to be a doctor...

...and save a man's life we both know is worth saving.

HANK: Your passport, Dr. Garland.

That's you, Dr. Considine, from this point on...

and not to be confused with your assistant, Dr. McAdams.

Incidentally, Dr. Garland, what's your profession?

Oh, I'm a... professor of entomology.

That half-second delay could be trouble, Doctor.

Be careful.

Where?

University of California at Los Angeles.

For how long? Nine and a half years.

Purpose of your visit? Field trip.

Not bad...

could be better.

Your assistant is already letter-perfect.

Your instruments, Doctor.

For entomological work, of course.

At least, our lab has done its best to make

your surgical instruments pass for that.

And you will carry this.

(BUZZING)

A wind-up razor?

Dual-purpose, you might say.

At least we consider it a rather secure place for a pacemaker.

Well... that about does it, save for one more item.

Your password once you get there will be "Libra."

You will follow the instructions of whoever contacts you

by using that word.

And who will that be?

I have no idea.

Very comforting.

Okay, your flight bags are in the next room.

Your plane leaves in about an hour.

Right.

Oh, Dr. Garland?

Sorry.

And a half-second delay again.

Bon voyage, Doctors.

Yeah.

♪ ♪

(TIRES SQUEAL)

♪ ♪

Anything to declare?

You have my statement there.

These?

Instruments for my work.

Dr. Garland happens to be an entomologist.

He uses the instruments

for preparing and mounting specimens.

Can't he speak for himself?

What kind of specimens?

Insects.

Beetles, for example, if that'll help clarify it for you.

Uh, Dr. Garland has had a long trip.

He's really quite tired.

One of our import regulations classifies knives

as potentially dangerous weapons.

No doubt you can obtain suitable instruments here.

Well, there's... there's no denying they're dangerous,

but... only to insects.

Officer, uh, from what I've seen of your people so far,

I can't imagine any of them running from something

that's used only for mounting of butterfly wings.

They certainly don't appear to be that insecure.

I'll let them pass, but we'll make note of them.

For, uh, closer shaves.

(BUZZING)

(BUZZING CEASES)

(CLICKS)

CONSIDINE: All right, so far...

But just keep in mind that it's a pacemaker

and not a dollar watch.

Anything happens to it, you've lost your man,

so be careful.

I'd suggest you do the same, Doctor.

Hmm?

How do you know this room hasn't been bugged?

Oh, it hasn't, I've checked,

but it's something to bear in mind

until our contact shows up.

Our contact; someone we've never seen before,

uses the word "Libra,"

and we're supposed to entrust our lives to him.

Or her. (KNOCKING)

At least two things are certain in a military dictatorship:

roads will be built and lunch will be served on time.

Dr. Garland?

Oh, no, I'm Dr. Joseph McAdams, his assistant.

That is Dr. Garland.

Won't you come in, Miss...?

Dr. Ernestine Waldo,

National University Department of Science.

Dr. Garland, pleasure to greet a fellow entomologist.

My pleasure.

You amaze me, Doctor,

learning about our arrival so quickly...

even learning about it at all.

Through your visa applications.

Some of us have connections and take the trouble to use them.

Of course.

Myself, I happen to be especially keen on

whatever projects... orthodox or not... could possibly contribute

to the benefit of my country.

Naturally.

I take it you are not speaking solely in terms of entomology.

No, I suppose not.

Well, then why not try summing it up in a word?

You'll have to forgive Dr. Garland.

He's a fanatic on directness.

His work is famous for it, as you probably know.

To be equally as direct then, Dr. Garland,

that's why you find me here; to learn more about your work.

I'm flattered.

Nothing would give me greater pleasure

than to be your guide while you're in my country.

(KNOCKING)

Excuse me.

Oh, dear, I have come at an awkward time.

Not at all. Won't you join us?

No, thank you. I must get back to the university.

You have my card.

Then I will hear from you, won't I?

Absolutely. Good.

Good-bye, Dr. Garland.

You were wise in handling Dr. Waldo as you did.

She, uh, represents Internal Security.

So, there we are,

your lunch here, your coffee at the Cafe Navarre,

where in exactly, uh, 50 minutes, you'll be joined by

another friend of... the word, I believe is "Libra."

Will there be anything else?

No, the coffee's just fine.

Thank you.

♪ ♪

(TIRES SCREECH)

MAN: No! No!

You're making a mistake!

I've done nothing!

No! Please!

No! No!

(GRUNTS)

(GASPS)

(GRUNTS)

When I see things like that, I know Libra must not fail.

We had word there might be trouble here.

That's why I didn't join you sooner.

Well, we're glad you could join us at all.

Now if you'll pay your bill, we'll be on our way.

My name is Andrea.

WALDO: My personal feeling is that their interests must lie

elsewhere than in just beetles and bugs.

Then obviously what's called for is

a more thorough questioning.

Bring them in.

Yes, sir.

(DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES)

We, uh, drive to the garage and switch cars, huh?

Yes.

I don't mean to be inquisitive,

but aren't you being a little sparse with your information?

It's all I've told you, Doctor, because it's all I've been told.

As for the people who are going to meet us,

all I know about them is they're with Libra.

They've been assigned to take us on the next step of our journey.

In other words, you don't know where Victor Lucas is either.

No. We change locations frequently

because of security reasons.

Here we are.

Uh, if you'll just point the way, I'll drive.

(ENGINE STARTS)

♪ ♪

We're being followed.

(ENGINE REVVING)

(TIRES SCREECHING)

(TIRES SCREECHING)

(TIRES SCREECHING)

The garage is just around the corner.

TROOPER: Halt!

(GUNSHOT)

(GUNSHOTS)

(GRUNTS)

(GUNSHOTS)

You all right? Yes.

We have no time. Let's go.

(ENGINE STARTS)

(TIRES SCREECHING)

The pacemaker... are you sure it's all right?

As long as Mr. Mannix stays clean-shaven.

It's in his razor.

How are we for time?

On schedule.

I'll tell you when we aren't.

How can you know that if you're sleeping all the time?

Just drive; that's all you have to worry about.

You two sure you're on the same side?

We're strangers, anyway.

That's how the movement wants it.

About all I know of him: his name is Eric Varney.

And I wouldn't even know that if I hadn't seen one of his papers.

Varney.

Are you any relation to Steven Varney?

He was my father.

The Steven Varney who was connected with the movement?

He died in it.

Yes, there was an ambush, by the military.

Victor Lucas sent in reinforcements.

ERIC: Yeah.

Yeah, but they never got there.

They never had a chance.

They were stopped and had to turn back.

It was a tragedy Victor Lucas will never forget.

If you feel the way you do about the death of your father,

why bother to make this trip?

Take it easy, Doc.

If you know so much about Victor Lucas,

how about a little information on you?

I think you already have all that matters: I'm here.

DUPAR: The two Americans... where did they go?

How should I know?

You're lying!

We have information that you were the last person

in touch with them before they left that hotel.

Now, where did you send them?

I brought them their lunch, that's all.

I was their waiter.

You mean their contact; admit it!

I don't know what you're talking about.

I'm a waiter, and that's all I am.

When you're not working for the Victor Lucas movement.

That's more like it, isn't it?

You're working for it, the two Americans are working for it.

They leave you, they meet others,

and all of them viciously attack government forces.

You're all in it together.

I don't know what you're talking about.

I'm a waiter. I told you that before.

Take him downstairs.

Make him talk.

I want to know where Victor Lucas is hiding!

The two Americans are connected with the movement.

They must be.

Yes, of course.

But the vital question is, how?

For what purpose?

Well, we have means of knowing soon enough.

He'll talk.

Two of your best men lie dead in the morgue,

a third critically wounded.

I'm sure you're not simply waiting.

Needless to say, a citywide dragnet

for the entire group is already underway.

I would have thought nationwide.

I'm extending it to that, of course.

Military.

Run it.

Hang on.

(GUNFIRE)

Can you see anything?

Not yet.

♪ ♪

Make a left here.

Wait!

That way! That way!

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(ENGINE SPUTTERING)

(ENGINE WHINING, SPUTTERING)

Come on.

Don't flood, baby.

(ENGINE SPUTTERING)

PILOT: Come on.

Come on.

Don't flood, baby.

(ENGINE SPUTTERING)

Damn it! Come on.

(ENGINE SPUTTERING)

(ENGINE STARTS)

♪ ♪

Over there!

(GUNFIRE)

(BULLET RICOCHETS)

(GUNFIRE CONTINUES)

(BULLET RICOCHETS)

(TIRES SQUEAL)

(ENGINES HUMMING)

We're coming in.

(TIRES THUD LIGHTLY)

(ENGINE SHUTS OFF)

Welcoming committee.

♪ ♪

Lucky we spotted your landing strip.

We're having engine trouble.

Where were you headed?

A fishing camp near here...

uh, we think it's near here... called Libra.

We'll be glad to take you there.

We're Libra.

Those uniforms had us worried.

The uniforms are borrowed.

They come in handy from time to time.

Get away as quickly as you can,

before a government plane spots you.

I'll take those.

Part of the service.

And don't worry... I have some notion of their contents.

(LOW CHATTER)

(DOOR CLOSES)

One learns to fight fire with fire.

This way.

They're here, Victor.

Andrea.

Oh, you should never have risked it.

But I'm grateful you did.

You didn't think I could stay away, did you?

Now, Victor, you know you... VICTOR: Michael.

No medical advice for a few moments.

Joe.

Thank you for coming.

Hello, Victor.

To think of it...

the two of you coming to me together.

That's quite a gift for one day.

I hope your trip was not too trying.

Well, it, uh, was quite a trip.

Did Andrea tell you about us, Joe?

She was my first nurse when this nuisance began.

This is Dr. Considine.

Victor Lucas.

Doctor, I hardly know what to say

to a person of your stature,

knowing what you'd be facing,

yet still coming to a man you have never even known.

That kind of dedication is very rare indeed these days.

Well, I think you ought to know that I...

I balked every step of the way.

I would have done exactly the same in your shoes.

It's true, Doctor.

He fought against your coming.

Who could ask for such a sacrifice?

I could.

Without him, our movement has no hope at all.

Excuse me.

I have some checking to do.

You'll see he stays quiet?

We'll see to it.

I'm sorry, Doctor.

But according to Michael, it had to be you.

He studied all your case histories.

He did?

Yes.

He's, uh, Dr. Michael Turman.

He was with the National Hospital Cardiology Section.

He expects to assist you.

And so do I.

(SIGHS)

This silence from us has gone on much too long.

Our people need to hear us again,

to hope once more.

Thank you, Doctor.

They will hope, Victor,

and they'll answer when you speak to them.

You'll see.

She's right, Victor.

When you're on your feet again.

Forgive me.

Doctor, I'll show you

the operating room now, if you'd like.

Oh. Uh, excuse me.

Yes, of course.

This is the operating room?

Yes.

You must be joking.

Not at all.

It is a room.

With ample space, as you see.

But... where are the facilities,

the... the equipment, the... the proper lighting?

No, not proper... essential!

It's true we haven't one kilowatt of electricity, Doctor,

but, fortunately, plenty of kerosene.

And, of course, we have a number of those.

Dr., uh, Turman... is that the name?

Yes.

Let me ask you... have you ever,

in your career as a cardiac surgeon,

operated without a defibrillator,

an electrocardiographic monitor, at least a fluoroscope?

No, I can't say that I have.

Then how on earth do you expect me to?

You are Myles Considine.

I'm not.

Oh, it's impossible. No, no.

Dr. Considine... No!

Doctor!

Doctor, please listen to me.

We do have some items...

stylet, hemostats and the like.

As for the rest...

we may be a mobile headquarters; we're not a mobile hospital.

Yes, I know. We've done the best we could.

All we could.

I'm aware of that, but under the circum...

VICTOR: For what it's worth, Doctor...

ANDREA: Victor.

I simply want you to know I don't expect...

(VICTOR GASPS) Atropine!

Get him back to his bed!

VICTOR: I'll be all right.

It'll go away.

That was foolish, Victor.

He insisted he had to tell you not to worry...

that he had complete faith in you.

If you felt you couldn't do the operation, he'd understand.

How soon can you get that... place ready?

It's ready.

Just waiting for him to stabilize.

Bring your instruments and the pacemaker.

We'll begin sterilizing.

(LABORED BREATHING)

Let's go, Doc.

I'll need a couple of men.

I can help. I've had some experience.

Good. Come along.

He'll need a couple of men.

I'll need a miracle.

You'll need more than that, Doc.

Somebody picked the lock and smashed the pacemaker.